"If I want to kill, I'll kill. But taking a life does nothing but stain my hands..."

Marshall Kane is a Bladehand, a hired killer. He's only ever known the grace and comfort of blood and death. From childhood, the House of Mercy forged his body and soul to be immortal for 100 years. At the term's end, he'll become one of the house's puppet souls.

A mercy writ takes him to the mortal world of Shasta to kill a demon prince, where he stumbles upon an ancient way that may be a single escape from his dire fate.